Pato j



P. J. SIMMEN.

AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROLLER FOR MOVING VEHICLES.

A PPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 23,1917.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

PAUL J. SIMMEN, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SPEED-CONTROLLER FQR MOVING VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed February 23, 1917. Serial No. 150,306.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL J. SIMMEN, a citizen of the United Sta es, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie-and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic Speed- Controllers for Moving Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatusfor the automatic control of the speed of vehicles moving along a railway, and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts'as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram in plan illustrating the trackway equipment forming partof the apparatus; and Fig. 2 is. a diagram in elevation illustrating the equipment on a vehicle, showing the relations of the parts under normal conditions.

In the drawings, there is indicated a single track railway having two rails 40, 40 along which vehicles indicated at X and Y are adap ed to travel, and which railway is divided into insulated blocks conveniently designated Ix, N and O. At suitable points along the railway are signal rails in series,

one series for each block, indicated at 35*,

35 and 35 for block K; and at 35 85 and 35 for block N. Of these groups 35 and 35 may be called home rails, 35 and 35 distant rails, and and 35 intermediate rails. Setween, or near, the track rails of each block is a battery 41 in circuit with a relay coil H (by means of conductors 7 5 and 76). Adjacent to this relay coil and adapted to be attracted by it is a swinging contact piece 77 normally held by the relay against the tension of a spring 78 in contact with the terminal of a conductor 79 in circuit with the three signal rails of the next preceding block, the contact piece 77 being in electrical connection with a battery 81 grounded as at 80. v

Each vehicle has the usual wheels 23, arranged in pairs and connected by axles 1. Mounted in bearings indicated at 26 on the vehicle is a shaft 8 having a Worm 15. Motion is imparted to this shaft from the movement of the wheels 23 by any suitable transmitting mechanism, as for example, a friction wheel 4. Secured to the shaft 3 is an actual speed indicator, in the form of a centrifugal governor, having swinging weighted arms ,9 pivoted to the shaft and.

linked to a collar 8 slidable upon the shaft and carrying a contact disk 6. It is obvious that the longitudinal movement of the collar 8 on the shaft 3 and consequently of the disk 6 is directly proportional to the speed of the vehicle the motion of which is communicated through the transmission wheel 1 to the shaft .3.

Also mounted on the vehicle near to the actual speed indicator, is a device, generally designated C, termed a permissive speed indicator, and comprising a support 17 on which is rotatably mounted a worm wheel 1 the teeth of which are adapted to mesh with the worm 15 on the shaft 3 but which teeth are interrupted at 20 for a purpose presently to be described. The support 17 is capable of vertical movement, and has a portion constituting the armature of an electromagnet 13. The gear wheel 1% is provided with a cam groove 25 adapted to be engaged by a pin 27 secured to a bar 26 capable of a reciprocating movement and carrying at its free end a contact member 11 made of suitable conducting material but insulated from the bar itself. A spring 22 secured to a fixed portion of the vehicle and to the wheel l i serves to retract the wheel 14 to its initial position after its actuation and release.

. A magnet operated train pipe air release valve is illustrated diagrammatically at A, being so constructed that as long as the net is energized, the valve is closed, but opens upon its deenergization. A structure of this character is well known in the art and needs no further explanation.

Mounted on the vehicle at any convenient place suitable for the purpose and in a position to ride on the signal rails of the several series mentioned, is ashoe 3%. ii battery 50 is placed at any convenient place on the vehicle, and a conductor 32 leads therefrom to the movable contact member 53 of a relay B and which member is under the tension of a spring 55, or under the influence of gravity, and is adapted to contact with the terminal 12 of a conductor 57 leading to the electromagnet 13 and. thence through a binding post 58 back to the battery 30. From the shoe 34 a conductor 59 leads to the coil 54. of the relay B and thence to the binding post 58. A conductor 63 is con nected to the conductor 59 and the post 58 and includes along one stretch a safety signal L, preferably in the form of a lamp. A

conductor 10- leads from thepost 58 to the disk 6 of the actual speed indicator and includes the electromagnet of the air valve A. The disk 6 is normally in contact with'a member 11 01 the permissive speed indicator and a conductor 69 leads therefrom to the conductor 32 and thence to the battery 30. A conductor 31 leads from the post 58 to a suitable ground connection.

Let it be assumed that the equipment illustrated in Fig. 2 is on the vehicle Y and that said vehicle has advanced into the block K see Fig. 1 so that its shoe 3% has contacted with theintermediate rail 35" which with the rails 35 ant 35 is energized from the battery 81. Then the current from this rail passes through the conductor 59, the relay 5%, and the binding post 58 to the ground,

energizing the relay, attracting the contact.

53 and closing a circuit through theterminal l2 and conductors 59 and 63, the safety signal lamp L, the post 58, the conductor 57, the battery 30, the conductor 32 and the contact 53, causing the signal L to be displayed. rit the same time, another circuit is formed through the terminal 12, the conductor 57, the electromagnet 13, the battery 30, the conductor 32, and contact 53, energizing the electromagnet l3 and lifting the gear wheel 14 out of mesh with the worm 15, causing the cam 25 to be set to its maximum position. As soon as the vehicle passes the signal rail 35, the electromagnet 13 becomes deenergized, the gear wheel let drops into mesh with the worm 15 and begins to revolve and simultaneously the safety signal lamp L is extinguished, and the conditions illustrated in Fig. 2 are established.

The rotation of the gear wheel during the initial portion of its movement does not affect the position of the bar 26 and of the member 11 because the cam groove 25 is circular during that portion of the travel and consequently the bar 26 remains in the maximum speed indicating position, the contact is maintained between its contact 11 and the disk 6 of the actual speed indicator, and an electrical circuit is completec through the battery 30, conductor 69, contact 11, disk 6, conductor 16 and electromagnet of the air brake system maintaining the air brake release valve closed.

As the gear wheel 14- continues to move the eccentric portion of its cam groove becomes engaged with the pin 27 and the bar is moved toward the left, compelling the operator to diminish the speed of the vehicle because if he does not and the contact between the member 11 and disk 6 is broken the circuit from the battery 30 through the magnet of the train pipe release valve is broken and the brakes are put on. This indicated reduction of speed continues until the mutilated portion 20 of the gear it reaches the Worm 15 when the speed indication is at its minimum and the. speed of the vehicle must be kept at that rate or the brake will be applied.

Suppose that the vehicle Y has continued to advance along the track until its shoe contacts with the energized signal rail 35 Instantly current from this ail energizes the relay 5%, and hence through the battery 30 the relay 13, the permissive'speed indicator is lifted and reset to its maximum position and remains as set until the shoe 34 passes oil of the rail 35 when again the gear let drops into mesh with the wheel 15 and the permissive speed indicator begins to run down again. 7

The limits of the permissive speed are determined by 'the eccentricity of the cam groove 25, ans the length oi the bar 26 and its ,contact 11. As stated above, the cam groove is circular at that point where the pin 27 rests immediately after the wheel lei is set to its maximum position, and is maintained in circular form for a portion of its length corresponding to the distance to be traversed by the vehicle say from the rail 35* to the rail 35 or from the rail 35 to the rail 35 or from the rail at the end of one series to the rail 35 at thebeginning of a second series, or- "for any other suitable distance.

If the circular portion of the groove is such that the eccentric part of the groove is not reached While the vehicle is passing from the rail 35 to the rail 35 and from the rail 35 to the rail 35 then the bar 26 will not be moved and the maximum speed may be maintainer. V

But suppose that the circular part of the groove is such that the maximum speed is indicated from the series of rails in one block to, the series of rails in another block, that is from rail 35 to rail 35 and suppose the vehicle X is passing through block 0. Then the signal rails 35", 35 and 35 in block N will be deenergized because themere presence oi the vehicle X in the block Q will short circuit the current through the battery il and deenergize the relay 7i and cut off the current from the battery 81 of the block 0 (not shown) to the rails 35 and When therefore the vehicle 1 reaches the rail 35, the permissive speed indicator C will not be reset to maximum, but will continue to run down reducing the speed gradually toward the minimum.

Tf, however, as the vehicle Y continues to travel through the block N the vehicle X moves out of block G, then the rails 35 35 and 35 will at once become energized and if the vehicle Y reaches the rail 35 or 35 after that has occurred the indicator C is again reset to a maximum.

By the use of this device it will thus be seen that so long as the block ahead of a moving vehicle is clear then a maximum permissive speed'is indicated, but if a train or vehicle is in thebloclrahead a constantly decreasing speed is indicated until the block is again cleared.

While the operator on the vehicle can readily note the indication of both the permissive and actual speed, by the positions of the parts 11 and 6 with respect to each other and to surrounding objects, yet for the sake of convenience, a scale indicated at may be placed at any convenient place on the vehicle and pointers or indexes indicated at 61 and 62 and secured to the parts ll and 8 respectively anc, adapted to move with such parts and over such scale to assist in recognizing the relative positions of the two indicators and to guide the conduct of the operator.

It will be understood that the number of signal rails for each block may be varied or even reduced to one without departing from the principles of the invention.

I claim s 1. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a series of signal rails along each block, means for energizing and deenergizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator and a retarding device on the vehicle, and means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicator whenever the vehicle is not passing over an energized signal rail.

2. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a series of signal rails along each block, means for energizing and deenergizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator,

apermissive speed indicator, and a retarding device on the vehicle, and means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicator whenever the vehicle is not passing over an energized signal rail and to restore such indicator to its initial posi tion whenever the vehicle begins to pass over an energized signal rail.

3. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a series of signal rails along each block, means for energizing and deenergizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed inrflicator, a permissive speed indicator, and a retarding device on the vehicle, means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicator whenever the vehicle is not passingover an energized signal rail, and means :t'or securing an unvarying speed inclication during an initial portion of its actuation. i

4. In combinatioma railway divided into blocks, a series of signal rails along each block, means for energizing and deiinergizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator, and a retarding device on the vehicle, means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicatorwhenever the vehicle is not passing over an energized signal rail, and means for securing an-unvarying speed indication during an initial portion of its actuation, which initial portion corresponds to the distance traversed by the vehicle from the last of a series of signal rails in a block to the first of a series of signal rails in the succeeding block. p V

5. A railway divided into insulated blocks, a series of energizable signal rails along each block, trackside means for energizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator, and a retarding device on the vehicle, and means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicater whenever the vehicle is not passing over an energized signal rail incoinbination with means for deiinergizing each series of signal rails by the mere presence oi? a second vehicle in a block ahead of the first vehicle. 1

6. In an apparatusofthe character described, a permissive speed imlicator comprising a revolving cam, a reciprocating member adapted tocooperate therewith and to be moved therefrom, the cam being circular for a portion or. its length whereby the reciprocated member is not moved while the cam is revolving through the circular arc.

7. In an apparatus of the character. described, a permissive speed indicatorcomprising a wheel moved from the motion of a vehicle, a cam groove partly circular and partly eccentric in the wheel, a bar having a pin or the like engaging the groove whereby as the wheel begins to move the ba r is not moved" until the pin engages the eccentric portion of the groove.

8. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a series of signal rails along each block, means for energizing and oeenergizing each series, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator, a retarding device, and means whereby the retarding device is actuated whenever the actual speed exceeds the permissivo'speed, and means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissive speed indicator ,w ienever the vehicle is not passing over an energized rail.

9. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a signal rail at each block, means for energizing and deenergizing each signal rail, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a'permissive speed indicator, a retarding device, means whereby the retarding device is actuated whenever the actual speed exceeds the permissive speed, and means on the vehicle adapted to actuate the permissivespeed indicator whenever the vehicle is not passing over an energized signal rail.

10. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a signal rail for each block, means forenergizing and deenergizing each signal rail, a vehicle adapted to, move along the railway, an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator, a retarding device, means whereby the retarding device is actuated whenever the actual speed exceeds the permissive speed, means derived from the energization of a signal rail whereby the permissive speed indicator is disabled and maintained at a maximum position While the vehicle is passing over the signal rail and means whereby the permissive speed indicator is set in motion as the vehicle passes beyond such rail. r

11. In combination, a railway divided into blocks, a signal rail for each block, means for energizing and deenergizing each signal rail, a vehicle adapted to move along the railway an actual speed indicator, a permissive speed indicator, retarding device, means whereby the retarding device is actuated whenever the actual speed exceeds the permissive speed, means derived from the energization of a signal rail whereby the permissive speed indicator is disabled and maintained at a maximum position while the vehicle is passing over the signal rail and means whereby the permissive speed indicator is set in motion as the vehicle passes beyond such rails and is maintained at a maximum position while the vehicle is traversing a predetermined distance.

12. In a vehicle speed control device, in combination; a trackway; a vehicle; a speed responsive device on the vehicle; means on the vehicle acting in cooperation with the speed responsive device for imposing not less than a predetermined speed upon the vehicle for a predetermined distance traversed by the vehicle and thereafter imposing a gradually decreasing speed to any desired minimum in accordance with the distance traversed by the vehicle.

13. In a vehicle speed control device, in combination; a trackway; a vehicle; a speed responsive device on the vehicle; means on the vehicle acting in cooperation with the speed responsive device for imposing not less than a predetermined speed upon the vehicle for a predetermined distance traversed by the vehicle and means partly on the trackway and partly on the vehicle for causing said means to repeat its eifect on the vehicle speed.

14. In a vehicle speed control device, in

combination; a trackway; a vehicle; a device on the vehicle having an initial condition, a persisting condition, a gradually changing condition and an ultimate condition; means for causing said device to have a persisting condition for a given distance traveled by the vehicle and to have a gradually changing condition reaching the ultimate condition for a further distance traveled by the vehicle and means partly on the traclrway and partly on the vehicle for causing said device to have an initial condition, and means including an actual speed of the vehicle mechanism governed by said device for controlling the travel of the vehicle.

15. In a vehicle speel control device in cluding an actual speed of the vehicle mechanism in combination: a traclrway; a vehicle; means on the vehicle for controlling the vehicle; a device on the vehicle having an initial condition and having a given controlling effect on the said means when in initial condition and having a persisting condition during a given distance traveled by the vehicle, the said device when in persisting condition having a controlling effect on the said means identical with the controlling ei'lect of the device when in initial condition; means for changing the device from initial condition to persisting condition by movement of the vehicle and means partly on the vehicle and partly on the trackway for causing said device to have the initial condition.

16. In combination: a railway track; a vehicle having running gear and braking mechanism, adapted to travel thereon; a de-. vice on the vehicle adapted to be actuated by a momentary electrical impulse; means on the track spaced at intervals for transmitting a momentary impulse to said device; a mechanism on the vehicle having an initial condition and an ultimate condition governed by said device when an impulse is transmitted thereto, said mechanism when not governed by said device being connected to the running gear of said vehicle and being actuated toward the ultimate condition; means for returning said mechanism to the initial condition when said device has an impulse transmitted thereto; means associated with said mechanism positioned in accordance with the permissible speed of said vehicle; means on the vehicle positioned in accordance with the actual speed of said vehicle and means controlling the braking mechanism of the vehicle controlled jointly by said two last mentioned means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL J. SIMMEN 

